Check-in and airport processing times

General guidelines

When preparing and packing for your trip, it's a good idea to think about how much time you'll need at the airport. Processing times may vary depending on where and when you're traveling (and may also be affected by things like peak business travel hours, spring break season, winter holidays, major sporting events, etc.), so please plan accordingly. For more typical off-peak travel times, you can use the following general guidelines.

When traveling fully within the U.S., which includes Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands:

If you're not checking luggage, plan to arrive at the airport at least 60 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time.

If you are checking luggage, plan to arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time.

When traveling internationally:

Whether or not you're checking luggage, plan to arrive at the airport at least 120 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time.

Also, to prevent delays at the security checkpoint, make sure that your carry-on baggage meets United and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements. Visit the TSA website for details regarding current security measures. When traveling from non-U.S. locations, additional or different security measures may be in place than what is outlined on the TSA website.

Payment transactions at airports

The United check-in counters and kiosks at some of the airports we serve do not accept cash as a form of payment. For more information, visit the Accepted Forms of Payment page.

Check-in guidelines

The times below apply to flights operated by United and United Express®. For flights operated by another carrier, including our codeshare partners, the applicable check-in time limit for that carrier's flight will apply.

For flights within the U.S., as well as most international flights, baggage will generally not be accepted for check-in more than four hours before scheduled flight departure, although this policy varies by airport and based on daily check-in counter hours.

United has the right to cancel reservations, deny boarding and refuse the acceptance of checked baggage of any customer who does not meet the applicable check-in time limit, as noted below.

Check-in is available starting 24 hours prior to scheduled departure. Check in now

Minimum check-in and boarding requirements for flights fully within the U.S., which includes Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Without checked baggage:

The minimum check-in time requirement for customers without checked baggage is 30 minutes prior to departure, except for San Juan and Baltimore, where the requirement is 45 minutes, and Guam, where the requirement is 60 minutes.

With checked baggage:

For all airports within the U.S. and Puerto Rico, the minimum check-in time requirement for customers with checked baggage is 30 minutes prior to departure, with the exceptions noted in the chart below.

Please note that check-in and baggage check must be completed by the specified number of minutes before scheduled departure, but we recommend allowing additional time.

Minimum check-in and boarding requirements for flights fully within the U.S., which includes Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Departure Airport

Baggage check-in completed

(number of minutes before departure)

Anchorage, AK (ANC)

45 minutes

Aspen, CO (ASE)

45 minutes

Atlanta, GA (ATL)

45 minutes

Austin, TX (AUS)

45 minutes

Baltimore, MD (BWI)

45 minutes

Charlotte, NC (CLT)

45 minutes

Chicago, IL (ORD)

45 minutes

Cincinnati, OH (CVG)

45 minutes

Cleveland, OH (CLE)

45 minutes

Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)

45 minutes

Dallas, TX – Love Field (DAL)

45 minutes

Denver, CO (DEN)

45 minutes

Detroit, MI (DTW)

45 minutes

Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)

45 minutes

Greenville-Spartanburg, SC (GSP)

45 minutes

Guam (GUM)

60 minutes

Honolulu, HI (HNL)

45 minutes

Houston, TX (IAH)

45 minutes

Indianapolis, IN (IND)

45 minutes

Jacksonville, FL (JAX)

45 minutes

Kona, HI (KOA)

45 minutes

Las Vegas, NV (LAS)

45 minutes

Los Angeles, CA (LAX)

45 minutes

Maui, HI (OGG)

45 minutes

Miami, FL (MIA)

45 minutes

New York, NY (LGA)

45 minutes

New York, NY/Newark, NJ (EWR)

45 minutes

Orange County, CA (SNA)

45 minutes

Orlando, FL (MCO)

45 minutes

Philadelphia, PA (PHL)

45 minutes

Phoenix, AZ (PHX)

45 minutes

Pittsburgh, PA (PIT)

45 minutes

Raleigh/Durham, NC (RDU)

45 minutes

Reno, NV (RNO)

45 minutes

San Diego, CA (SAN)

45 minutes

San Francisco, CA (SFO)

45 minutes

San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)

60 minutes

Savannah, GA (SAV)

45 minutes

Seattle, WA (SEA)

45 minutes

St. Louis, MO (STL)

45 minutes

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT)

60 minutes

Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (TPA)

45 minutes

Washington, D.C. – Dulles (IAD)

45 minutes

Washington, D.C. – National (DCA)

45 minutes

All other airports within the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

30 minutes

Boarding ends 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time for flights within the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Boarding ends 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time for flights out of Guam.

Minimum check-in and boarding requirements for international flights

For nonstop international flights from airports in the U.S., excluding some flights from Honolulu, Hawaii, customers and bags must complete check in at least 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure time and customers must be at the gate at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure time. For flights to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands from Honolulu, Hawaii, customers must check their bags at least 75 minutes before departure.

Minimum check-in and boarding requirements for international flights

Departure airport

Baggage check-in completed

(number of minutes before departure)

Be at the gate

(number of minutes before departure)

Brussels, Belgium (BRU)

90 minutes

60 minutes

Caracas, Venezuela (CCS)

90 minutes

60 minutes

Dublin, Ireland (DUB)

75 minutes

30 minutes

Koror, Palau (ROR)

60 minutes

30 minutes

Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia (KSA)

90 minutes

60 minutes

Kwajalein, Marshall Islands (KWA)

90 minutes

60 minutes

Lima, Peru (LIM)

75 minutes

30 minutes

Majuro, Marshall Islands (MAJ)

90 minutes

60 minutes

Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (PNI)

90 minutes

60 minutes

Truk, Federated States of Micronesia (TKK)

90 minutes

60 minutes

Yap, Federates States of Micronesia (YAP)

90 minutes

60 minutes

All other non-U.S. airports

60 minutes

30 minutes

Processing times

As a result of heightened security measures at airports within the U.S., we suggest that customers arrive at the airport early. Some local airport authorities have instituted additional measures beyond the mandatory security measures specified by the TSA. All vehicles approaching the airports are subject to search on the approaching roadways and within the traffic lanes at the terminals. This may add to your airport processing times, especially at major airports.

The metal detectors at most airports are very sensitive. To ensure a seamless security process, we suggest placing all metal items, including jewelry, in your carry-on luggage before arriving at the security checkpoint. In most cases, shoes should be removed and placed in the bins provided at the checkpoint.

Please allow for additional time if you are departing during peak traffic hours. Heavy travel volumes on Sunday afternoons, Friday afternoons and Monday mornings may require an additional half hour. Peak traffic hours at most airports are:

6:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

The approximate airport processing time for most cities and regions outside the U.S. is three hours.